Benitez blasts Premier League

Manager questions decisions

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 22nd August 2007

rafa benitez liverpool

Benitez: Accusations

It's going to be very difficult for us to win the Premier League.

Rafa Benitez
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Rafa Benitez has blasted the Premier League for what he believes is unfair treatment of Liverpool.

The Reds boss has been upset by the ruling of a Premier League arbitration hearing that Manchester United are within their rights to block Gabriel Heinze's possible move to Anfield.

The Argentinian defender has been the subject of a summer-long transfer tussle between the two clubs and following the League's judgment it appears unlikely Benitez will get his man any time soon.

However, Benitez believes that Liverpool are consistently on the wrong end of a number of official decisions and that these could threaten a potential title bid.

"I would like to ask the Premier League a number of questions," Benitez told the Liverpool Echo.

"How can a player with a signed agreement be treated like this? He [Heinze] has a document which is clear, but the Premier League prefers to believe the word of someone else who made a mistake.

Fight all the way

"I know there were accusations made against Liverpool in the hearing which were unbelievable. How can this be allowed?

"Then I would like to ask the Premier League why is it that Liverpool always plays the most fixtures, away from home in an early kick-off, following an international break?

"We had more than the top clubs last season and we have four already to prepare for this season.

"Then I want to ask the Premier League why it was so difficult for Liverpool to sign Javier Mascherano, when we had to wait a long time for the paperwork, but it was so easy for Carlos Tevez to join Manchester United?

"It's going to be very difficult for us to win the Premier League because the other teams are so strong, but I want our supporters to know that despite the disadvantages we have, we will fight all the way.

"We will fight to cope with our more difficult kick-off times and all the other decisions which are going against us."